After a much-needed bye week, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti returned to his Monday media availability with a rested team and a challenging matchup ahead.
The Hoosiers direct their attention to a 7-2 USC team coming off a huge win over Ohio State. For Cignetti, the week off offered a chance to recharge after a Minnesota performance he described as uncharacteristic.
“Great to have a week off, players and coaches,” Cignetti said. “I think everybody will be refreshed, ready to go.”
Here are the main takeaways from Cignetti’s Monday availability.
Execution remains the priority
The bye week gave Indiana time to evaluate its recent struggles, but Cignetti does not see the offense’s problems as something that requires a complete makeover.
Instead, his focus is on execution.
Cignetti said Indiana averaged roughly 42 points through its first four or five games before that number fell to around 18 over the next four. He pointed to missed opportunities and six costly offensive line penalties against Minnesota as examples of what needs to change.
“We’ll have to play well and obviously can’t do a lot of the things we did against Minnesota, which looked like we had played 19 games in a row instead of nine,” Cignetti said.
While the staff continues to look for adjustments, Cignetti emphasized that Indiana needs to stop putting itself in difficult situations.
“Before you win it you can’t lose it, and got to make sure we do that,” Cignetti said.
No announcement at quarterback
Cignetti offered little clarity on whether Josh Hoover will start against USC.
Asked about Hoover’s availability and whether his return is a matter of getting healthy, Cignetti kept his answer brief.
“We’ll see how the week plays out and we’ll see who we trot out there,” he said.
Cornerback AJ Harris is also day to day after leaving the Minnesota game late. If Harris cannot play, Cignetti expressed confidence in Jaylen Bell, who filled in at corner for much of the season when Sharpe and Harris went down.
“He’s a good young player and he’s played well,” Cignetti said.
USC presents challenges on both sides
Cignetti had plenty of praise for USC, starting with its quarterback.
“Quick release. Very accurate. You can tell he’s really smart, heady,” Cignetti said. “He can have his eyes over here and get them over there and get rid of the ball real quick and accurate.”
He also highlighted the impact of USC’s freshman tight end and receiver, along with Coach Lincoln Riley’s offensive design.
The challenge extends to the other side of the ball. Cignetti said USC’s defense has shown improvement under Gary Patterson, particularly over the past three or four weeks. He pointed to its third-down efficiency, disruptive defensive front and team speed.
“They’re playing good defense right now, rolling a lot of guys up front, a lot of disruptive players,” Cignetti said.
Special teams need more consistency
Cignetti described special teams as a winning edge for Indiana over the past two seasons, but he was blunt about the unit’s performance against Minnesota.
“We were sloppy to say the least against Minnesota,” Cignetti said. “We’ve had some down moments throughout the course of the year.”
That includes missed field goals and a punt return unit Indiana would like to get more production from. Still, Cignetti emphasized that securing possession comes first.
“The big thing there is catch the ball first, because nothing can turn a game around like put one on the ground,” he said.
One bright spot was Paddy McAteer’s long field goal against Minnesota. Cignetti said McAteer had consistently shown his range in practice, leaving little doubt about whether he had enough leg.
“It was just a matter of swinging easy, don’t try to overhit it, and it was a clutch kick,” Cignetti said.
Defensive depth remains a strength
Even with the mistakes against Minnesota, Cignetti singled out Indiana’s defensive performance as a positive.
The Hoosiers’ defensive line depth has allowed them to rotate players without a significant drop-off, helping the front stay fresh and play with the effort Cignetti expects.
“Helps a lot getting guys playing hard every play, play fast, physical, relentless,” Cignetti said. “We are deep on the defensive line and that’s where it all begins.”
That group will be important against USC as Indiana looks to turn its week of rest into a cleaner performance.
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